- Enrollment
- 753
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Bluffton, IN
Lancaster Central School
Federal NCES profile for Lancaster Central School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 180822001409
👥 S:T ratio 39
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 78
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Lancaster Central School earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Indiana median.
- #4 of 4
- public schools in Bluffton · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.2:1
- students per teacher
- 34.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Lancaster Central School has class sizes near the Indiana median. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Lancaster Central School ranks #4 of 4 public schools in Bluffton, IN.
School address
District: Northern Wells Community Schools · Indiana
NCES ID 180822001409 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-2 students YoY
Lancaster Central School held near 542 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-2 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 35.5 → 35.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-2 students YoY 180822001409 · Bluffton, IN Other · MID · TRAD
533 enr · 15.2:1 · 34.0% lunch · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: Norwell High School (753 students)
Lancaster Central School held near 542 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-2 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 35.5 → 35.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Indiana schools → · Find another →
Lancaster Central School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Norwell High S
Norwell High School
753 students
- Ossian Element
Ossian Elementary
566 students
- Norwell Middle
Norwell Middle School
561 students
- This school
Lancaster Central School
533 students
What this shows Lancaster Central School reports 533 students on the CCD universe file.
How Lancaster Central School compares
Lancaster Central School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.2:1 | ▼ 4% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 34.0% | ▼ 31% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 533 | top 36% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.2:1
Leaner classes than 45% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
533
Bigger than 66% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
34.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 31% below the Indiana average of 49.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15.2:1
students per teacher
- 4% below state mean
Top 49% in Indiana - lower ratio than 51% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
8.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$11,198
per pupil, district-wide
- below Indiana avg of $12,921
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 533 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 86.1%
Hispanic or Latino 7.9%
Two or More 3.4%
African American 1.3%
Asian 1.3%
Largest group: White at 86.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 25.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 25.1, Lancaster Central School is less mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
District finance for Northern Wells Community Schools reports $11,198 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Lancaster Central School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norwell High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ossian Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Norwell Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Lancaster Central School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 566
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 561
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Similar other schools in Bluffton
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~533 students)
Frequently asked questions about Lancaster Central School
How many students attend Lancaster Central School?
Lancaster Central School has 533 students enrolled. It is a public school in Bluffton, IN. CCD year-over-year: 544 (2022-23) → 542 (2023-24), nearly flat (-2).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Lancaster Central School?
The student-teacher ratio at Lancaster Central School is 15.2:1, which is 4% lower than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 3% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Lancaster Central School?
34.0% of students at Lancaster Central School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Lancaster Central School?
The largest demographic group at Lancaster Central School is White at 86.1% of enrollment, in Bluffton, IN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Lancaster Central School?
Lancaster Central School has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Lancaster Central School rank among public schools in Bluffton?
By Resource Investment Index, Lancaster Central School ranks #4 of 4 public schools in Bluffton, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Northern Wells Community Schools?
Besides Lancaster Central School, Northern Wells Community Schools also operates Norwell High School (753 students), Ossian Elementary (566 students), and Norwell Middle School (561 students). See the Northern Wells Community Schools district page for the complete list.